"The Gordon is gude in a hurry,
An' Campbell is steel to the bane,
An' Grant, an' Mackenzie, an' Murray,
An' Cameron will truckle to name."--HOGG.
The interruption of this scene came from old Holmes, who cried to his
companion, on the high key in which it was usual for him to speak:
"This is downright bad, Shabbakuk--we'll never get our leases a'ter
this!"
"Nobody can say"--answered Tubbs, giving a loud hem, as if determined to
brazen the matter out. "Maybe the gentleman will be glad to compromise
the matter. It's ag'in law, I believe, for anyone to appear on the
highway disguised--and both the 'Squire Littlepages, you'll notice,
neighbor Holmes, be in the very _middle_ of the road, and both was
disguised, only a minute ago."
"That's true. D'ye think anything can be got out o' that? I want
profitable proceedin's."
Shabbakuk gave another hem, looked behind him, as if to ascertain what
had become of the Injins, for he clearly did not fancy the real
"article" before him, and then he answered:
"We may get our farms, neighbor Holmes, if you'll agree as I'm willin'
to do, to be reasonable about this matter, so long as 'Squire Littlepage
wishes to hearken to his own interests."
My uncle did not deign to make any answer, but, knowing we had done
nothing to bring us within the view of the late statute, he turned
toward the Indians, renewing his offer to them to be their guide.
"The chiefs want very much to know who you are, and how you two came by
double scalps," said the interpreter, smiling like one who understood,
for his own part, the nature of a wig very well.
"Tell them that this young gentleman is Hugh Littlepage, and that I am
his uncle. Hugh Littlepage is the owner of the land that you see on
every side of you."
The answer was communicated, and we waited for its effect on the
Indians. To our surprise, several of them soon gathered around,
evidently regarding us both with interest and respect.
"The claims of a landlord seem to be better understood among these
untutored savages, than among your own tenants, Hugh," said my uncle.
"But there goes old Holmes, the inbred rogue, and his friend Shabbakuk,
back to the woods; we may have an affair on hand with _his_ Injins."
"I think not, sir. It does not appear to me that there is valor enough
in that tribe, to face this. In general, the white man is fully a match
for the redskin; but it may be doubted whether chiefs like these would
not prove too much for twice their number of varlets, of the breed of
yonder skulking scoundrels."
"Why do the chiefs manifest so much interest in us?" asked my uncle, of
the interpreter. "Is it possible that they pay so much respect to us, on
account of our connection with this estate?"
"Not at all--not at all. They know the difference between a chief and a
common man well enough, it is true," was the answer; "and twenty times,
as we have come down through the country, have they expressed their
surprise to me, that so many common men should be chiefs, among the
pale-faces; but they care nothing for riches. He is the greatest man
among them, who is best on a war-path, and at a council-fire; though
they _do_ honor them that has had great and useful ancestors."
"But, they seem to betray some unusual and extraordinary interest in us,
too; perhaps they are surprised at seeing gentlemen in such dresses?"
"Lord, sir, what do men care for dresses, that are used to see the heads
of factories and forts half the time dressed in skins? They know that
there be holidays and workin'-days; times for every-day wear, and times
for feathers and paint. No--no--they look at you both, with so much
interest, on account of their traditions."
"Their traditions! What can these have to do with us? We have never had
anything to do with Indians."
"That's true of you, and may be true of your fathers; but it's not true
of some of your ancestors. Yesterday, after we had got to our night's
stopping-place, two of the chiefs, this smallish man with the double
plate on his breast, and that elderly warrior, who has been once
scalped, as you can see by his crown, began to tell of some of the
treacheries of their own tribe, which was once a Canada people. The
elderly chief related the adventures of a war-path, that led out of
Canada, across the large waters, down to a settlement where they
expected to get a great many scalps, but where in the end they lost more
scalps than they found; and where they met Susquesus, the upright
Onondago, as they call him in that tongue, as well as the Yengeese owner
of the land, at this very spot, whom they called by a name something
like your own, who was a warrior of great courage and skill by their
traditions. They suppose you to be the descendants of the last, and
honor you accordingly; that's all."
"And, is it possible that these untutored beings have traditions as
reliable as this?"
"Lord, if you could hear what they say among themselves, about the lies
that are read to them out of the pale-face prints, you would l'arn how
much store they set by truth! In my day, I have travelled through a
hundred miles of wilderness, by a path that was no better, nor any
worse, than an Indian tradition of its manner of running; and a
tradition that must have been at least a hundred summers old. They know
all about your forefathers, and they know something about you, too, if
you be the gentleman that finds the upright Onondago, or the Withered
Hemlock, in his old age, with a wigwam, and keeps it filled with food
and fuel."
"Is this possible! And all this is spoken of, and known among the
savages of the Far West?"
"If you call these chiefs savages," returned the interpreter, a little
offended at hearing such a term applied to his best friends and constant
associates. "To be sure they have their ways, and so have the
pale-faces; but Injin ways be not so very savage, when a body gets a
little used to them. Now, I remember it was a long time before I could
get reconciled to seeing a warrior scalp his enemy; but as I reasoned on
it, and entered into the spirit of the practice, I began to feel it was
all right."
I was walking just in front of my uncle, for we were in motion again on
our way to the wood, but could not help turning and saying to him with a
smile--
"So it would seem that this matter of the 'spirit' is to be found in
other places beside the legislature. There is the 'spirit of scalping,'
as well as the 'spirit of the institutions!'"
"Ay, Hugh; and the 'spirit of fleecing,' as a consequence of what is
profanely termed the last. But it may be well to go no nearer to the
wood than this spot. The Injins I have told you of are in these bushes
in front, and they are armed; I leave you to communicate with them in
any manner you please. They are about twenty in number."
The interpreter informed his chiefs of what had been said, who spoke
together in earnest consultation for a moment. Then Prairiefire himself
plucked a branch off the nearest bush, and holding it up he advanced
close to the cover, and called out aloud in some one, or in many of the
different dialects with which he was acquainted. I saw, by the moving of
the branches, that men were in the bushes; but no answer of any sort was
made. There was one savage in our band, who betrayed manifest impatience
at these proceedings. He was a large, athletic Iowa chief, called in
English Flintyheart, and, as we subsequently learned, of great renown
for martial exploits. It was always difficult to hold him in when there
was a prospect of scalps, and he was now less restrained than common,
from the circumstance of his having no superior of his own particular
tribe present. After Prairiefire had called two or three times in vain
to the party in the cover, Flintyheart stepped out, spoke a few words
with energy and spirit, terminating his appeal by a most effective, not
to say appalling, whoop. That sound was echoed back by most of the band,
when they all broke off, right and left, stealing more like snakes than
bipeds to the fences, under cover of which they glanced forward to the
wood, in which every man of them buried himself in the twinkling of an
eye. In vain had the interpreter called to them, to remind them where
they were, and to tell them that they might displease their great
father, at Washington, and Prairiefire stood his ground, exposed to any
shot the supposed foe might send at him; on they went, like so many
hounds that have struck a scent too strong to be held in restraint by
any whipper-in.
"They expect to find Injins," said the interpreter, in a sort of
despair; "and there's no holdin' 'em back. There can be no enemies of
their'n down hereaway, and the agent will be awfully angry if blood is
drawn; though I shouldn't mind it a bit if the party was some of them
scoundrels, the Sacs and Foxes, whom it's often a marcy to kill. It's
different down here, however, and I must say I wish this hadn't
happened."
My uncle and myself just waited long enough to hear this when we rushed
forward, along the highway, and entered the wood, joined by Prairiefire,
who, fancying by our movement that all was right, now raised such a
whoop himself as to demonstrate it was not for want of "knowing how"
that he had hitherto been silent. The road made a curve at the very
point where it penetrated the forest, and being fringed with the bushes
already mentioned, the two circumstances shut out the view of what was
passing behind the scenes, until we reached the turn, where a common
halt of the wagons had been made, when the whole view burst upon us at
once in all its magnificence.
A rout of a "grand army" could scarcely have been more picturesque! The
road was lined with vehicles in full retreat, to use a military term,
or, to speak in the more common parlance, scampering off. Every whip was
in active use, every horse was on the run, while half the faces were
turned behind their owners, the women sending back screams to the whoops
of the savages. As for the Injins, they had instinctively abandoned the
woods, and poured down into the highway--speed like theirs demanding
open ground for its finest display. Some had leaped into wagons, piling
themselves up among those virtuous wives and daughters of that portion
of the honest yeomanry who had collected to devise the means of cheating
me out of my property. But, why dwell on this scene, since the exploits
of these Indians, for the last six years, have amply proved that the
only thing in which they excel, is in running away? They are heroes when
a dozen can get round a single man to tar and feather him; valiant, as a
hundred against five or six, and occasionally murderers, when each
victim can be destroyed by five or six bullets, to make sure of him. The
very cowardice of the scoundrels should render them loathsome to the
whole community; the dog that has spirit only to hunt in packs being cur
at the bottom.
I must add one other object to the view, however. Holmes and Shabbakuk
brought up the rear, and both were flogging their devoted beast as if
his employers--I dare not call them "masters," as I might be accused of
aristocracy for using so offensive a term in this age of common-sense
liberty, while "employers" is a very significant expression for the
particular occasion--as if his "employers," then, had left something
behind them, at "Little Neest," and were hurrying back to obtain it
before it fell into other hands. Old Holmes kept looking behind, as if
chased by the covenants of forty leases, while the "spirit of the
institutions," headed by two governors, and "the honorable gentleman
from Albany," was in full pursuit. If the "spirit of the institutions"
was really there, it was quite alone; for I looked in vain for the
exhibition of any other spirit. In much less time than it has taken me
to write this account, the road was cleared, leaving my uncle, myself,
and Prairiefire, in quiet possession; the latter uttering a very
significant "hugh!" as the last wagon went out of sight in a cloud of
dust.
It was but a moment, however, before our own tribe, or _tribes_ would be
more accurate, came down upon us, collecting in the road at the very
spot where we stood. The victory had been bloodless, but it was
complete. Not only had the savage Indians completely routed the virtuous
and much-oppressed-by-aristocracy Injins, but they had captured two
specimens of virtue and depression in the persons of as many of the
band. So very significant and expressive was the manner of the
captives, that Flintyheart, into whose hands they had fallen, not only
seemed to hold their scalps in contempt, but actually had disdained to
disarm them. There they stood, bundles of calico, resembling children in
swaddling-clothes, with nothing partaking of that natural freedom of
which their party love to boast, but their legs, which were left at
perfect liberty, by way of a _dernier resort_. My uncle now assumed a
little authority, and commanded these fellows to take off their
disguises. He might as well have ordered one of the oaks, or maples, to
lay down its leaves before the season came round; for neither would
obey.
The interpreter, however, whose name was Manytongues, rendered into
English from the Indian dialects, was a man of surprisingly few words,
considering his calling, on an occasion like this. Walking up to one of
the prisoners, he first disarmed him, and then removed his calico hood,
exposing the discomfited countenance of Brigham, Tom Miller's envious
laborer. The "hughs!" that escaped the Indians were very expressive, on
finding that not only did a pale-face countenance appear from beneath
the covering, but one that might be said to be somewhat paler than
common. Manytongues had a good deal of frontier waggery about him, and,
by this time he began to comprehend how the land lay. Passing his hand
over Josh's head, he coolly remarked--
"That scalp would be thought more of, in Iowa, than it's ra-ally worth,
I'm thinking, if truth was said. But let us see who we have here."
Suiting the action to the words, as it is termed, the interpreter laid
hold of the hood of the other captive, but did not succeed in removing
it without a sharp struggle. He effected his purpose, assisted by two of
the younger chiefs, who stepped forward to aid him. I anticipated the
result, for I had early recognized the gore; but great was the surprise;
of my uncle when he saw Seneca Newcome's well-known face developed by
the change!
Seneca--or, it might be better now to use his own favorite orthoepy, and
call him Sene_ky_, at once, for he had a particularly sneaking look as
he emerged from under the calico, and this would be suiting the sound to
appearances--Seneky, then, was in a "mingled tumult," as it is called,
of rage and shame. The first predominated, however, and, as is only too
common in cases of military disasters, instead of attributing his
capture to circumstances, the prowess of his enemies, or any fault of
his own, he sought to mitigate his own disgrace by heaping disgrace on
his comrade. Indeed, the manner in which these men went at each other,
as soon as unsacked, reminded me of two game-cocks that are let out of
their bags within three feet of each other, with this exception--neither
crowed.
"This is all your fault, you cowardly dog," said Seneky, almost
fiercely, for shame had filled his face with blood. "Had you kept on
your feet, and not run me down, in your haste to get off, I might have
retreated, and got clear with the rest of them."
This assault was too much for Joshua, who gained spirit to answer by its
rudeness and violence, not to say injustice; for, as we afterward
ascertained, Newcome had actually fallen in his eagerness to retreat;
and Brigham, so far from being the cause of his coming down, had only
prevented his getting up, by falling on top of him. In this prostrate
condition they had further fallen into the hands of their enemies.
"I want nothin' from you, 'Squire Newcome," answered Joshua quite
decidedly as to tone and manner; "_your_ character is well known, all up
and down the country."
"What of my character? What have _you_ got to say ag'in' me or my
character?" demanded the attorney-at-law, in a tone of high defiance. "I
want to see the man who can say anything ag'in' my character."
This was pretty well, considering that the fellow had actually been
detected in the commission of a felony; though I suppose that difficulty
would have been gotten over, in a moral sense, by the claim of being
taken while struggling in defence of human rights, and the "spirit of
the institutions." The defiance was too much for Brigham's patience, and
being fully assured, by this time, that he was not in much danger of
being scalped, he turned upon Seneca, and cried, with something more
than spirit, with downright rancor:
"You're a pretty fri'nd of the poor man, and of the people, if truth
must be said, an't you? Everybody in the county that's in want of money
knows what _you_ be, you d----d shaver."
As the last words came out, Seneky's fist went in upon Brigham's nose,
causing the blood to flow freely. My uncle Ro now thought it time to
interfere, and he rebuked the irritated lawyer with dignity.
"Why did he call me a d----d shaver, then?" retorted Seneky, still angry
and red. "I'll stand _that_ from no man."
"Why, what harm can there be in such a charge, Mr. Newcome? You are a
member of the bar, and ought to understand the laws of your country, and
cannot stand in need of being told that it has been decided by the
highest tribunal of your State that it is no reproach to be called a
shaver! Some of the honorable members of that learned body, indeed, seem
to think, on the contrary, that it is matter of commendation and
congratulation. I am ashamed of you, Mr. Newcome--I'm quite ashamed of
you."
Seneky muttered something, in which I fancied I understood the words
"the Court of Errors be d----d," or "the Court of Errors" might go to
some very bad place, which I will not name; but I will not take on
myself that any man of decency could really use such irreverent language
about a body so truly eminent, though a person in a passion is sometimes
disposed to forget propriety. My uncle now thought it time to put an end
to this scene; and, without deigning to enter into any explanation, he
signified to Manytongues his readiness to lead his chiefs to the point
where they desired to go.
"As to these two Injins," he added, "their capture will do us no honor;
and now we know who they are, they can be taken at any time by the
deputy sheriffs or constables. It is hardly worth while to encumber your
march with such fellows."
The chiefs assented to this proposal, too, and we quitted the woods in a
body, leaving Seneky and Joshua on the ground. As we subsequently
learned, our backs were no sooner turned, than the last pitched into the
first, and pounded him not only until he owned he was "a shaver," but
that he was "a d----d shaver" in the bargain. Such was the man, and such
the class, that the deluded anti-renters of New York wish to substitute,
in a social sense, for the ancient landlords of the country? A pretty
top-sheaf they would make to the stack of the community, and admirably
would the grain be kept that was protected by their covering! One would
like to see fellows of this moral calibre interpreting _their_
covenants; and it would be a useful, though a painful lesson, to see the
change effected for a twelvemonth, in order to ascertain, after things
had got back into the old natural channel, how many would _then_ wish to
"return, like the dog to his vomit, or the sow to her wallowing in the
mire."
After giving some directions to Manytongues, my uncle and I got into our
wagon and drove up the road, leaving the Indians to follow. The
rendezvous was at the Nest, whither we had now determined to proceed at
once and assume our proper characters. In passing the rectory, we found
time to stop and run in, to inquire after the welfare of Mr. and Miss
Warren. Great was my joy at learning they had gone on to the Nest, where
they were all to dine. This intelligence did not tend to lessen the
speed of Miller's horse, or my horse, it would be better to say, for I
am the real owner of everything on the Nest farm, and shall probably so
remain, unless the "spirit of the institutions" gets at my property
there, as well as in other places. In the course of half an hour we
drove on the lawn, and stopped at the door. It will be recollected that
the Indians had our wigs, which had been left by my uncle and myself in
their hands, as things of no further use to us. Notwithstanding our
dresses, the instant we presented ourselves without these instruments of
disguise we were recognized, and the cry went through the house and
grounds that "Mr. Hugh had come home!" I confess I was touched with some
signs of interest and feeling that escaped the domestics, as well as
those who belonged out of doors, when they saw me again standing before
them in health, if not in good looks. My uncle, too, was welcome; and
there were a few minutes during which I forgot all my grounds for
vexation, and was truly happy.
Although my grandmother, and sister, and Mary Warren all knew what the
cry of "Mr. Hugh has got home" meant, it brought everybody out upon the
piazza. Mr. Warren had related the events of the day, as far as he was
acquainted with them; but even those who were in the secret, were
surprised at our thus returning unwigged, and in our proper characters.
As for myself I could not but note the manner in which the four girls
came out to meet me. Martha flew into my embrace, cast her arms around
my neck, kissing me six or eight times without stopping. Then Miss
Colebrooke came next, with Ann Marston leaning on her arm, both smiling,
though greatly surprised, and both bright, and pretty, and lady-like.
They were glad to see me, and met my salutations frankly and like old
friends; though I could see they did not fancy my dress in the least.
Mary Warren was behind them all, smiling, blushing, and shy; but it did
not require two looks from me to make certain that _her_ welcome was as
sincere as that of my older friends. Mr. Warren was glad to have it in
his power to greet us openly, and to form an acquaintance with those to
whose return he had now been looking, with anxiety and hope, for three
or four years.
A few minutes sufficed for the necessary explanations, a part of which,
indeed, had already been made by those who were previously in the
secret; when my dear grandmother and Patt insisted on our going up to
our old room, and of dressing ourselves in attire more suitable to our
stations. A plenty of summer clothes had been left behind us, and our
wardrobes had been examined that morning in anticipation of our soon
having need of them, so that no great time was necessary to make the
change. I was a little fuller than when I left home, but the clothes
being loose, there was no difficulty in equipping myself. I found a
handsome blue dress-coat that did very well, and vests and pantaloons
_ad libitum_. Clothing is so much cheaper in Europe than at home, that
Americans who are well supplied do not often carry much with them when
they go abroad; and this had been a rule with my uncle all his life.
Each of us, moreover, habitually kept a supply of country attire at the
Nest, which we did not think of removing. In consequence of these little
domestic circumstances, as has been said, there was no want of the means
of putting my uncle and myself on a level with others of our class, as
respects outward appearance, in that retired part of the country, at
least.
The apartments of my uncle and myself were quite near each other, in the
north wing of the house, or that which looked in the direction of a part
of the meadows under the cliff, the wooded ravine, and the wigwam, or
cabin of the "Upright Onondago." The last was very plainly in view from
the window of my dressing-room; and I was standing at the latter,
contemplating the figures of the two old fellows, as they sat basking in
the sun, as was their practice of an afternoon, when a tap at the door
proved to be the announcement of the entrance of John.
"Well, John, my good fellow," I said, laughingly; "I find a wig makes a
great difference with your means of recognizing an old friend. I must
thank you, nevertheless, for the good treatment you gave me in my
character of a music-grinder."
"I am sure, Mr. Hugh, you are heartily welcome to my services, come as
you may to ask them. It was a most surprisingest deception, sir, as I
shall ever hadmit; but I thought the whole time you wasn't exactly what
you seemed to be, as I told Kitty as soon as I went down stairs:
'Kitty,' says I, 'them two pedlers is just the two genteelest pedlers as
hever I see in this country, and I shouldn't wonder if they had known
better days.' But, now you have been to see the hanti-renters with your
own eyes, Mr. Hugh, what do you think of them, if I may be so bold as to
ask the question?"
"Very much as I thought, before I had been to see them. They are a set
of fellows who are canting about liberty, at the very moment when they
are doing all they can to discredit its laws, and who mistake
selfishness for patriotism; just as their backers in the State
government are doing, by using the same cant, when their object is
nothing but votes. If no tenant had a vote, this question would never
have been raised, or dreamt of--but I see those two old fellows, Jaaf
and Sus, seem to enjoy themselves still."
"Indeed they do, sir, in the most surprisingest manner! They was both
antiquities, as we says in Hengland, when I came to this country,
sir--and that was before you was born, Mr. Hugh--an age agone. But there
they sits, sir, day in and day out, looking like monumentals of past
times. The nigger"--John had been long enough in the country to catch
the vernacular--"The nigger grows uglier and uglier every year, and that
is most of a change I can see in _him_; while I do think, sir, that the
Indian grows 'andsomer and 'andsomer. He's the 'andsomest old gentleman,
sir, as I know of, far and near!"
"Old _gentleman_!" What an expressive term that was, in this case! No
human being would ever think of calling Jaaf an "old gentleman," even in
these "aristrocratic" days, when "gentlemen" are plentier than
blackberries; while any one might feel disposed thus to describe
Susquesus. The Onondago _was_ a gentleman, in the best meaning of the
word; though he may, and certainly did, want a great deal in the way of
mere conventional usages. As for John, he never would have used the word
to me, except in a case in which he felt the party had a claim to the
appellation.
"Susquesus is a magnificent sight, with his gray or white head, fiery
eyes, composed features, and impressive air," I answered; "and Jaaf is
no beauty. How do the old men get on together?"
"Why, sir, they quarrel a good deal--that is, the nigger quarrels;
though the Indian is too much above him to mind what he says. Nor will I
say that Yop actually quarrels, sir, for he has the greatest possible
regard for his friend; but he aggravates in the most surprisingest
manner--just like a nigger, howsever, I do suppose."
"They have wanted for nothing, I trust, during my absence. Their table
and other comforts have been seen to carefully, I hope?"
"No fear of that, sir, so long as Mrs. Littlepage lives! She has the
affection of a child for the old men, and has everything provided for
them that they can possibly want. Betty Smith, sir--you remember Betty,
the widow of the old coachman, that died when you was at college,
sir--well, Betty has done nothing, these four years, but look after them
two old men. She keeps everything tidy in their hut, and washes it out
twice a week, and washes their clothes for them, and darns, and sews,
and cooks, and looks after all their comforts. She lives hard by, in the
other cottage, sir, and has everything handy."
"I am glad of that. Does either of the old men ever stray over as far as
the Nest House now, John? Before I went abroad, we had a visit from
each, daily."
"That custom has fallen away a little, sir; though the nigger comes much
the oftenest. He is sure to be here once or twice a week, in good
weather. Then he walks into the kitchen, where he will sit sometimes for
a whole morning telling the hardest stories, sir--ha, ha, ha!--yes, sir,
just the hardest stories one ever heard!"
"Why, what can he have to say of that nature, that it seems to amuse you
so?"
"According to his notion, sir, everything in the country is falling
away, and is inferior like to what it may have been in his young days.
The turkeys arn't so large, sir; and the fowls is poorer, sir; and the
mutton isn't so fat, sir; and sich sort of enormities."
Here John laughed very heartily, though it was plain enough he did not
much fancy the comparisons.
"And Susquesus," I said, "he does not share in his friend's criticism?"
"Sus never enters the kitchen, sir, at all. He knows that all the
quality and upper class come to the great door of the house, and is too
much of a gentleman to come in at any other entrance. No, sir, I never
saw Sus in the kitchen or hoffices, at all; nor does Mrs. Littlepage
'ave his table set anywhere but in the hupper rooms, or on the piazza,
when she wishes to treat him to anything nice. The old gentleman has
what he calls his traditions, sir, and can tell a great many stories of
old times; but they ar'n't about turkeys, and 'orses, and garden-stuff,
and such things as Yop dwells on so much, and so uncomfortably."
I now dismissed John, after again thanking him for his civilities to one
of my late appearance, and joined my uncle. When we entered the little
drawing-room, where the whole party was waiting to meet us, previously
to going to the table, a common exclamation of pleasure escaped them
all. Martha again kissed me, declaring I was now Hugh; that I looked as
she had expected to see Hugh; that she would now know me for Hugh, and
many other similar things; while my dear grandmother stood and parted my
hair, and gazed into my face with tears in her eyes, for I reminded her
of her first-born, who had died so young! As for the other ladies, the
two heiress-wards of Uncle Ro seemed smiling and friendly, and willing
to renew our ancient amicable relations; but Mary Warren still kept
herself in the background, though I thought by her modest and
half-averted eye, and flushed cheeks, that she sympathized as deeply in
her friend Patt's present happiness as any of the others; possibly more
deeply.
Before we went to the table I sent a servant to the top of the house,
with orders to look down the road, in order to ascertain when my red
friends might be expected. This man reported that they were advancing
along the highway, and would probably reach the door in the course of
half an hour. They had stopped; and he thought that he could perceive,
by means of his glass, that they were painting their faces, and
otherwise arranging their toilets, in preparation for the anticipated
interview. On receiving this information we took our seats at table,
expecting to be ready to receive the chiefs, as soon as they should
arrive.
Ours was a happy dinner. For the moment, the condition of the country
and the schemes of my tenants were forgotten, and we chatted of those
nearer interests and feelings that naturally presented themselves to our
minds at such a time. At length dear grandmother pleasantly
remarked--"You must have an instinct for the discovery of discretion,
Hugh, for no one could have made a better choice of a confidant than you
did, while going to the village this morning."
Mary blushed like an Italian sky at eventide, and looked down, to
conceal her confusion.
"I do not know whether it was discretion or vanity, grandmother," was my
answer, "for I am conscious of feeling an unconquerable reluctance to
passing for a common music-grinder in Miss Warren's eyes."
"Nay, Hugh," put in the saucy Patt, "I had told you before that you
passed for a very _un_common music-grinder in her eyes. As for the
grinding, she said but little; for it was of the flute, and of the
manner in which it was played, that Miss Warren spoke the most
eloquently."
The "Martha!" of Mary Warren, lowly, but half reproachfully uttered,
showed that the charming girl was beginning to be really distressed, and
my observant parent changed the discourse by a gentle and adroit
expedient such as a woman alone knows thoroughly how to put in practice.
It was simply handing Mr. Warren a plate of greengages; but the act was
so performed as to change the discourse.
During the whole of that meal I felt certain there was a secret,
mysterious communication between me and Mary Warren, which, while it
probably did escape the notice of others, was perfectly evident to
ourselves. This fact I _felt_ to be true; while there was a
consciousness betrayed in Mary's blushes, and even in her averted eyes,
that I found extremely eloquent on the same subject.